Spinal Cord 1998 Dec;36(12):811-7
Fawcett JW, Department Physiology and MRC, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge University, UK.

Axon regeneration fails in the CNS because the glial environment is inhibitory, and because the regenerative response of CNS is poor. Regeneration can therefore be induced by removing the inhibitory effect of CNS glial molecules, by increasing the regenerative response. The successful techniques have been to block inhibitory molecules made by astrocytes, to implant peripheral nerve grafts embedded in a bFGF-containing fibrin gel, to implant olfactory ensheathing cells, to graft embryonic spinal cord tissue, and to implant trophic factor-secreting fibroblasts. The next challenge is to prepare to apply these types of treatment to human patients with spinal cord injuries.